Numbering device.



E. A. CROSBY.

NUMBERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W e/viva down ,4 (/usb' EDWARD A. CROSBY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

NUMBERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 8, 1915. Serial No. 60,261.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARD A. CRosBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Numbering Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a numbering device which is not only highly eflicient for the purposes in view, but which is very simple and of extremely small cost.

The improved numbering device is adapted for very general use for identifying and marking various articles that should be serially numbered, and is especially adapted for use to number storm sashes, screens and windows.

The improved numbering device is in the form of a single plate having stamped, or otherwise imprinted thereon, a single series of digits, 0 to 9, inclusive. On the opposite sides, to-wit, at both right and left of each digit, there is a so-called indicator, by the settin of which selected digits may be arranged to denote any number from 0 to 99, inclusive. Otherwise stated, a partly completed unit indicator is arranged at the right and a partly completed tens indicator is Placed at the left of each digit or figure, following the ordinary custom of reading numbers from left to right. For example, if a tens indication is completed at the left of the numeral 8 and a unit indication is completed at the right of the numeral 2, the marking device will be arranged to indicate the number 82; whereas, on the other hand, if the tens indication be completed at the left of the numeral 2 and the unit indication be completed at the right of the numeral 8, the marking device would be arranged to indicate the number 28. The number plate may be secured, either to a wooden sash or screen frame and to a window frame, or it may be applied to a screen surface, by any of nu.- merous devices, certain of which will be hereinafter described.

The limited space of one and three-eighths inches, the width of stock or factory-made sash, and other customary allotted space where such number plates must be attached, will not permit two rows or series of figures or digits arranged in circular form, on such number plate, for the reason that such figures would be too small, and hence, illegible for purposes desired, and furthermore, the sheet metal of required thickness to insure a rigidity could not be drawn without cracking, to make small figures raised or projected to the necessary height. A single row or series of figures, however, on such a plate may be made of such size that they may be easily seen and they may, furthermore, be drawn and raised to such height or projection that they will not be obliterated or defaced even by many coats of paint. Therefore, economy of space and large figures are important factors to be attained.

Several forms of the improved marking or numbering device are indicated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view showing one of the numbering devices; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 00 00 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but illustrating a slightly modified form of the numbering device; Fig. 4; is a section taken on the line 00 m of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a still further modification of the numbering device; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line m m of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section on the line a w of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a plan View illustrating a still further modification of the numbering device; Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 50 m of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a plan view showing an elongated form of the numbering device; Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line w 03 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to Fig. 10 but illustrating a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line x x of Fig. 12; Fig. 1 1 illustrates a still further modification of the elongated form of the numbering device; Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line x w of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 illustrates a still further modification of the numbering device wherein the digits are in circular arrangement; and Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 00" m of Fig. 16.

In Figs. 2, 4L and 9, the numeral 1 indicates a portion of the wooden frame ofa window screen or sash, and in Figs. 6, 7, 12 and 18, the numeral 2 indicates the Woven wire or netting of the window screen.

Referring first to the construction illus- Patented oct: 21, mic.

trated in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 3 indicates the disk-like number plate of the numbering device, thesame preferably having a beaded marginal flange 1 and a raised or beaded axial screw passage 5, through which latter a screw 6 is passed and screwed into the frame 1. The digits 0 to 9, inclusive, in circular arrangement, are stamped into the faee of the plate 3, said digits being embossed or raised from the surface of said plate, and at the left of each digit there is a perforation 7, indicating the tens order, and at the right of each digit, a perforation 8 indicating the units order. These perforations, in the first illustration, constitute incomplete indicators that are adapted to be completed by flanged plugs 9 inserted through any one or more of the said perforations with their flanges clamped between the plate 3 and the frame 1, and thus securely held in position, as best shown in Fig. 2. In this form of the device, the plugs 9 must be inserted in the proper holes before the plate is secured to the sash or other body to which it is to be applied.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and 41 is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the indicators are completed by driving small headed nails 10 through the proper perforations 7 and 8. In this arrangement, the indication can be completed by driving the nails, after the plate has been ailixed, and the indication can be changed at any time, without removing the plate, simply by changing the position of the nails or escuteheon pins.

In Fig. 1, it Will be noted that the plug 9 is inserted at the left of the digit 8 and a similar plug is placed at the right of the digit 2, thereby setting the marking device to designate the number 82. In Fig. 3, the nails 10 are likewise applied to indicate the same number, to-wit, 82, it being, of course, understood that, in all cases, that numeral having the completed indication mark at the-left will be read in the tens column, and that the numeral having a completed indicator mark at the right will be read in the units column of the indicated number.

The marking device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is much like that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, but -the axial screw hole is omitted, the marginal bead is not shown, but it is provided with .a-downturned marginal flange that is formed with integral projecting barbs 11 that are adapted to be passed through the meshes of the screen 2, as shown in Fig. 6, to secure the marking device to the wire netting. It has the above described perforations 7 and 8 through which devices, such as the plugs 9, may be passed, as in Fig. 1, in which case the flanged heads of the said plugs would be held between the plate 3 and the screen 2, as shown in Fig. 7.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 8

and 9 is like that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, except that instead of the perforations 7 and 8, there are provided raised bosses 7 and 8 which are adapted to be punched to complete the indication.

to 14, are provided at upper and lower ends with screw or nail holes 12 to facilitate securing the same to a storm sash or a screen frame. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 14, raised bosses 7 and 8 are placed, respectively, at the left and right of the digits. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 12, the perforations 7" and 8" are placed, respectively, at the left and right of the digits, but in lieu of the perforated ends 12, said plate is formed with barbs 13 adapted to be passed through the meshes of the screen 2, as shown in Fig. 13, and clenched against the screen.

Figs. 16 and 17 indicate a circular or disklike number plate 3 having a downturned marginal flange and having cut from its marginal portion partially severed tongues 11 and having at its inner portion similar partially severed tongues 15. These tongues 1i and 15 are located, respectively, outward and inward of corresponding digits. These tongues, when turned downward, serve as indicators, or, in other words, take place of the above described perforations and bosses and cooperating indication completing devices, such as the plugs and nails described. At its center, the said plate 3 is provided with a perforation through which a screw 16 is adapted to be passed to secure the plate to the screen frame or storm sash.

The manner in which the so-called indicators are used to denote the numerals is above stated, and the proper order or reading is the same as indicated in the other markers of difierent forms, as hereinbefore explained. Vhere any one digit must be read in both the tens and units columns to give the proper number, for example, 55, this fact will be. indicated by completing the indication marks on both sides, to-wit, both on the right and left of the numeral 5, in all of the arrangements illustrated, except Fig. 16, and both inside and outside of the said numeral 5 in the arrangement shown in Fig. 16.

From the statements above made, it is evident that the device is capable of considerable modification as to arrangement of so-called indicators and of the means for securing the number plate to different objects. The highly important feature is the use of a single series of digits with marks at right and left, or on opposite sides of the digits, whereby numbers requiring the use of two figures may be indicated by manipulation of the indicators of the single series of digits.

What I claim is:

1. A numbering device comprising a number plate having a single series of digits 0 to 9, inclusive, imprinted thereon and having on opposite sides of said digits, partly completed indicators by the completion of which selected digits may be designated to denote numbers from 0 to 99, inclusive.

2. A numbering device comprising a single number plate having a single series of digits 0 to 9, inclusive, imprinted thereon and having on opposite sides of the, said digits partially completed indicators by the completion or setting of which, selected digits may be designated to denote numbers from 0 to 99, inclusive.

3. A numbering device comprising a single number plate having a single series of digits 0 to 9, inclusive, in circular arrangement thereon and having on opposite sides of said digits, partly completed indicators, by the completion or setting, of which, selected digits may be designated to denote numbers from O to 99, inclusive.

4:. A numbering device comprising a number plate having a single series of digits 0 to 9, inclusive, imprinted thereon and having perforations on the opposite sides of said digits, and plugs for insertion into certain of the' said perforations to afford indicators, whereby certain selected digits may be designated to denote numbers from 0 to 99, inclusive.

5. A numbering device comprising a number plate having a single series of digits 0 to 9, inclusive, imprinted thereon and having perforations on the opposite sides of said digits, and headed plugs adapted to be inserted through certain of said perforations, with their heads at the back of the said plate, whereby certain selected digits may be designated to denote numbers from 0 to 99, inclusive.

6. A numbering device comprising a number plate having a single series of digits 0 to 9, inclusive, imprinted thereon and having perforations on the opposite sides of said digits, and headed plugs adapted to be inserted through certain of said perforations, with their heads at the back of the said plate, whereby certain selected digits may be designated to denote numbers from 0 to 99, inclusive, and the said number plate having means for attaching the same to an article to be numbered thereby.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. CROSBY. Witnesses EVA E. Ker ie, HARRY D. KILsonE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

